WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON 2, WINSFORD UNITED 1
(after extra time. 1-1 after 90min)
Jack Bannister was West Didsbury & Chorlton’s super sub scoring a dramatic 121st minute winner in their Emirates FA Cup, extra preliminary round replay against Winsford United.
And manager Paul Marshall praised the winger, whose last-gasp goal earned a home tie against Brighouse Town, for letting his feet doing the talking.
“It was an unbelievable winner from Jack who has been frustrated not to have been starting games,” explained Marshall.
Bannister, who was one of three substitutes made just short of the hour, was a nuisance from the start and capped an impressive cameo with a wonderful strike in stoppage time after two hours of gripping football.
As a penalty shootout loomed, Winsford were caught on the counter as Bannister raced down the left, cut inside and bent a fabulous shot low to the left of keeper Jacob Kirwan.
It brought to an end the second of two pulsating ties which were great advertisements for the world’s most famous cup competition.
Marshall was relieved, saying: “It ended well, but we were nowhere near our best.
“But we had enough chances in the first half to put the game to bed and made hard work of it.
“We knew it would be hard as it is always a test against Winsford as they are a very good and direct side.
“They also had their chances and Ollie [Martin] had to make some good saves.”
There was drama before the start with the replay switched to Irlam FC’s Silver Street ground due to an issue with West’s new floodlights.
Martin was called into action early on to palm away a goalbound effort from Oliver McDonough.
West went close when a left-wing cross from Lewis Billingsley landed on the top of the bar.
The breakthrough came in the 10th minute when Jake Kenny’s cross found striker Victor Abadaki who was given time to turn and fire home, despite the desperate goalline attempt by Connor Hooks to keep the ball out.
It was a special moment for Abadaki whose goals last season helped West had their best-ever cup run when they played former EFL club Darlington in the second qualifying round.
West almost made it two shortly afterwards when Harvey Roberts’ drive on the run was arrowing towards the top corner until keeper Jacob Kirwan pulled off a fine fingertip save.
Kirwan also did superbly to deny Jordan Lazenbury while Abadaki produced some fabulous footwork before releasing Pat Davan who netted but who had strayed offside.
Martin had to excel again either side of the break, denying Oliver Pope and then making a double block after West were dispossessed trying to usher out the ball for a goal kick.
Winsford were on the front foot from the restart, forcing a succession of corners as West had to dig in which they did well.
West almost doubled their lead when Davan headed against the bar which was against the run of play.
It looked as though they would hang on until nine minutes from time when Hooks’ header from a corner was cleared of the line and the ball was recycled to substitute Kallam Boyle who fired home a low shot through a crowded goalmouth.
West substitute Adam Dawson almost grabbed an 88th minute winner when his shot was well beaten out by Kirwan.
Dawson was denied again by Kirwan early in the first period of extra time after a break by four West players against only two defenders with Bannister making the initial burst forward.
The game was heading towards deadlock and a penalty shootout decider until Bannister had the last decisive word.